The Heiress in Blue (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 5
The sleek luxury sedan sped along the Gyeongbu Expressway.
Secretary Oh Sang Jae, seated in the passenger seat and in his mid-thirties, turned around.
He had a slightly lean build and an intellectual face.
“Director, did the hamburger suit your taste?”
Sanha, arms crossed and eyes closed, replied,
“No. I didn’t eat it.”
Secretary Choi Seung Hoon, in his mid-twenties and sitting in the driver’s seat, glanced at the rearview mirror and asked,
He was tall with a solid build.
“Then why reorder it?”
Beside Sanha sat a paper bag branded with the burger shop’s logo.
“You said the burger was so delicious, right?”
“I meant what I heard. Three beef patties and cheese oozing all over—it really sounded amazing. It’d be such a waste to throw it away just because it got cold.”
“Don’t worry. I didn’t throw it away.”
Both secretaries asked in unison,
“But you said you didn’t eat it?”
“Turns out someone else was meant to enjoy it. A plump little Kkachi ate it so delightfully it even sparked my appetite. That’s why I reordered.”
Secretary Oh asked,
“Kkachi ate a burger?”
“Yeah.”
“Kkachi did?”
Secretary Choi also looked baffled.
“That’s what I said. A chubby little Kkachi ate it up so nicely.”
Seeing his confused secretaries, Sanha laughed.
His eyes, now open, turned toward the back of his left hand.
Spotting the character-themed band Yeoreum had stuck there, he couldn’t help but smile even more.
Just then, all three of their phones beeped simultaneously.
The secretaries’ expressions hardened as they checked the group message.
「Appointment: Gu Ui Seok as Executive Vice President of Daeshin Electronics’ Strategic Planning Office.」
Sanha also checked the message but spoke as if it were no big deal.
“So Iseok became EVP. Should I stop by a flower shop on my way?”
“Is this really the time to talk about flower shops?”
Secretary Choi flared up.
“He’s your younger brother—you should be congratulating him!”
“I’m about to burst out of this outfit, and you’re telling me to congratulate him? No wonder employees call you ‘Watered-Down Director.’”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“They say everything you do is as diluted as water—‘meh’—even your drinks taste watered down—‘meh-meh.’”
Sanha chuckled.
“Whoever came up with that nickname really nailed it.”
“Director, this isn’t something to laugh about.”
It was Choi again.
“What isn’t?”
“Aren’t you frustrated? Don’t you have any ambition?”
“Having that kind of drive just gives you ulcers. I’m perfectly happy as I am.”
Hearing this, Secretary Choi grew even more exasperated.
“This is Daeshin Group—the top conglomerate in Korea! And you’re the eldest of the three siblings, the rightful heir, no less.”
“What is this, the Joseon Dynasty? ‘Rightful heir’?”
“No, seriously! It’s already unfair enough that you lost the department head position to your two-years-younger twin sister, Gu Ui Dam, and now the strategic planning office—a role that leads directly to board membership—went to Gu Ui Seok. You’re stuck in a powerless, symbolic role in business support. And now they’ve sent you off on this nationwide factory inspection tour just to push you out while issuing that announcement. That’s just wrong.”
“Wow, I guess Secretary Choi’s got big ambitions himself, huh?”
“To be honest, when I was assigned as secretary to the heir of Daeshin Group, I was thrilled! My peers even said my career path was wide open and envied me. But lately, everyone looks at me with pity. Even the cafeteria aunties say they feel sorry for me, you, Senior Oh, and Team Leader Im—and give us extra servings.”
Secretary Choi sighed, oddly delicate for someone his size.
“If you hate it so much, why don’t you just resign?”
“Who said that? Sure, we’re fine just lazing around and still getting paid, but Director—don’t you have any pride? Aren’t you angry about being constantly disrespected by those rude twin siblings? If they were my siblings, I wouldn’t stand for it. I’d straighten them out.”
“Wow, Secretary Choi, you’re scary.”
“My brain might not be the sharpest, but when it comes to driving or using brute strength, I don’t lose to anyone. And you, Director—you’re supposed to be ex-Special Forces! Why do you act so feeble? Where did that Special Forces grit go? Did you boil it and eat it?”
“Does being ex-Special Forces pay the bills? Secretary Choi, you stretch your legs only where it’s safe to stretch. I’m perfectly content right now.”
“But your friend has already become a CEO! How can you be like this?”
“There’s an old saying: ‘An orphan is pitiful.’ No matter where I go, I’m treated like an outcast.”
“…No, why must you say things like that again?”
Secretary Choi’s voice softened apologetically at the end.
“Besides, I’ve already caused a massive disaster—that’s the real dealbreaker.”
“But it was just an accident. I don’t believe, like everyone else keeps saying, that you did it on purpose.”
“It’s kind of you to say so. But either way, the bottom line is that because of me, someone’s still fighting for their life.”
Sanha turned his gaze out the window.
He’d mentioned hearing a loud noise—and far ahead, a train appeared on the tracks.
“…I’m sorry.”
“Secretary Choi, you have nothing to apologize for. My life’s been tangled up from the very beginning.”
Feeling he’d said something pointless, Secretary Choi glanced at Secretary Oh in the passenger seat.
Oh suddenly punched him lightly on the head.
Sniffling, Secretary Choi refocused on driving.
Secretary Oh checked the back seat through the rearview mirror.
Sanha had closed his eyes again.
The Seoul-bound KTX train rushed past quickly.
*
“It’s Kyungdong Hospital. Call me when you arrive.”
Though she’d anticipated it, hearing the actual instruction to go to the hospital made Yeoreum’s heart sink.
She took a taxi to the hospital and called her mother again from the lobby.
“Yeoreum, don’t be shocked—come to the ICU waiting area.”
Following the signs, she headed upstairs to the ICU.
She spotted her mother seated on a nearby chair.
“…Mom!”
Se Jin looked up at Yeoreum’s call.
“You’re here?”
She stood.
Her delicate features and slender figure made it hard to believe she was in her late forties.
A large bandage covered her otherwise lovely forehead.
Seeing Yeoreum’s surprise, Se Jin said,
“It’s fine—just a minor scrape. But your dad isn’t doing well.”
Since it wasn’t visiting hours, they couldn’t enter the ward.
Yeoreum looked through the ICU window at her father, Jeong Hyun.
An oxygen mask and a tangle of complex machines were attached to his body.
Tears threatened to spill, but she held them back.
Standing beside her, Se Jin spoke.
“A drunk driver crashed head-on into our taxi. Your dad saw it coming, unbuckled his seatbelt, and pulled me tightly into his arms. Because of that, I’m okay—but he took the full impact. He’s in a coma, and the doctors say his condition is critical.”
“Mom…”
“The test results should be ready soon. But honestly, I’m so scared right now…”
Despite her calm tone, Se Jin was trembling all over.
Yeoreum pulled her mother into a tight embrace.
Se Jin exhaled shakily and whispered,
“What’ll we do if something happens to your dad…?”
“He’ll be fine. Dad wouldn’t leave you behind.”
Yeoreum held her tearful mother even tighter.
“Jeong Jung Hyeon loves Kim Se Jin so much. So don’t worry—Dad will wake up soon.”
At that moment, a doctor in a white coat approached.
He seemed to have the test results.
“Mr. Jeong Jung Hyeon has suffered severe organ damage, especially to his heart. At this stage, the chances of recovery are extremely slim.”
Hearing this death sentence, both mother and daughter turned pale.
Se Jin looked even worse.
She might have collapsed if Yeoreum hadn’t been holding her hand.
Gathering every ounce of strength, Se Jin asked,
“Doctor, if it’s ‘slim,’ that still means there’s a slight chance, right?”
“Well…”
Instead of answering directly, the doctor paused briefly.
“…Is there a way? Is there any way to save him? Please tell us!”
“There is one method—but it’s impossible.”
“What is it?”
Both Se Jin and Yeoreum asked at once.
“There’s a hospital in the U.S. called Sprina Hospital—the world’s top cardiac center. Recently, they published a clinical paper in a medical journal about successfully treating a patient with the exact same condition as Mr. Jeong.”
“How do we get there?”
Yeoreum asked desperately.
“It’s not possible. It’s impossible from the very start.”
“Why?”
“Mr. Jeong’s heart is nearly ruptured. He can’t board a regular flight. He’d need a specially equipped medical jet to transport him carefully to the U.S. Moreover, even if you somehow secured a surgery slot at Sprina—which is nearly impossible given its global reputation—the surgery alone would cost over 3 billion won, and monthly treatment would run at least 1.5 billion won.”
The doctor looked at the stunned mother and daughter with pity.
“I understand how you feel, but it’s simply impossible. Mr. Jeong likely has about a week left. Please stay by his side and care for him in his final moments.”
He turned away apologetically and walked down the corridor.
Seeing her mother struggle to breathe, Yeoreum squeezed her hand tightly.
“There has to be a way. There absolutely has to be. So hang in there, Mom.”
“…Ah, Yeoreum. I need to make a call right now. Please watch over your dad for a bit.”
“Mom?”
Se Jin hurried down the corridor.
Worried she might be overwhelmed by despair, Yeoreum shook her head.
She walked back toward the ICU entrance.
She stared at her father through the glass door.
Dad wasn’t the type to leave Mom alone.
And Mom was the same.
‘I have to find a way. I must.’
Yeoreum fell deep into thought.
Meanwhile, Se Jin left the bustling hospital and stood in a quiet spot nearby.
She pulled out her phone and searched for a contact.
「Chief Secretary Ahn Seo Jun」
After a brief deep breath, Se Jin pressed the call button.
—“Young Madam? Is it really you, Madam?”
A surprised voice on the other end asked again.
“Yes. It’s me—Kim Se Jin.”
—“How long has it been? Twenty years?”
“That’s right. You haven’t changed your number.”
—“No, I haven’t.”
“But, Chief Secretary…”
Noticing Se Jin’s tone grow somber, he asked,
—“Has something happened to Young Master Jeong Hyun?”
Swallowing a hot breath, Se Jin answered,
—“Yes.”
He fell silent for a moment.
“I’m at Kyungdong Hospital’s ICU. Jeong Hyun is in critical condition. Please tell Madam his help is urgently needed.”
—“Understood.”
He gave a brief reply and hung up.
Se Jin let out a shaky breath.
Her hands trembled uncontrollably.
*
“Where are you taking my dad?”
When medical staff suddenly rushed in and wheeled Jeong Hyun’s bed out of the ICU, Yeoreum asked.
“We’ve received orders to move him immediately to a VIP room.”
“What? Who ordered that?”
“The hospital director.”
They pushed the bed toward the elevator.
Yeoreum followed—and saw Se Jin.
“Mom, they’re moving Dad to the VIP room.”
“It’s okay.”
Se Jin gave a small smile and took Yeoreum’s hand.
She stood beside her husband’s bed as they entered the elevator.
Confused by this sudden turn of events, Yeoreum noticed her mother wasn’t saying much.
She just looked unusually solemn.
Unlike the crowded chaos moments before, the VIP wing was quiet.
Jeong Hyun’s bed was wheeled into a private room.
It was so spacious and luxurious that it was hard to tell if it was a hospital room or a hotel suite.
Even the medical staff were excessively courteous and deferential.
“Mom…?”
While Yeoreum was bewildered by it all, Se Jin remained calm.
She gently nuzzled her husband’s face and gave a faint smile.
Yeoreum carefully held her father’s arm.
“No matter how many times I look, our dad is still a handsome man.”
“That’s right.”
They both smiled faintly.
Just then, the hospital room door burst open.
An elderly woman strode in, wearing sharply tailored red trousers and a crisp white short bob that radiated authority.
Clad in red high heels, her every step exuded confidence.
Especially striking were her piercing eyes—clearly not an ordinary person.
‘Where have I seen her before…?’
She definitely looked familiar.
In fact, very familiar.
Suddenly, Yeoreum cried out,
“Chairwoman Kang Ju Hwa!”
At that, the woman turned to look at Yeoreum.
The regal white-haired woman was unmistakably Kang Ju Hwa, chairwoman of PR Group.
As if to confirm it, a dozen or so people followed her into the room.
Yeoreum, momentarily puzzled as to why a major corporate chairwoman—someone she’d only seen on the news—was here, quickly remembered Kang Ha Eun.
‘Incredible. Even the chairwoman came personally?’
Yeoreum quickly steeled herself.
But Se Jin approached the woman and bowed respectfully.
“It’s been a long time. Mother-in-law.”
When scheming men desperately battle for her favor in the male harem
This one’s also on my reread list! The rivalry, scheming between the men in the imperial harem are just as intense and thrilling as in classic palace drama novels, where concubines fight to the death. Give it a read, girls! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Synopsis:
“I am not worthy of her… but I still want to be by her side, even if only as a loyal dog…”
Those were the painful whispers of Yue Guanyi – the proud Crown Prince of the Great Qi, who was torn between deep love and a guilty conscience. Despite holding the supreme power of the Imperial Guard, he still could not forget the dark past when he was sold into a brothel.
Fate played a cruel twist when Qiu Shuzhi – a young female official who had just passed the imperial examinations with top honors – stepped into his life. She did not know that she was the one who had saved him from a tragic fate many years ago. And now, her heart was the target of pursuit for both Yue Guanyi and the powerful Empress Dowager Qin Qing.
While Yue Guanyi only dared to silently care for and protect the one he loved from afar, the Empress Dowager Qin Qing openly expressed his feelings and did not hesitate to take advantage of his power to approach Qiu Shuzhi. The covert struggle between the two most powerful forces in the imperial court began…
Trigger warning: All men in this novel are yandere style.
_____
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